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“Because if I’m right, I get to write a medical paper that will earn me accolades across the empire.” Sulat grinned. “Did any of your mentors ever mention the sharhal-li?”
“The echo of mating fever? That’s just a legend. There’s no scientific proof it has ever happened or could happen. The sharhal only happens once in a lifetime.”
“That’s why I want blood samples. If you and I both have the markers of the sharhal, even in trace amounts, it means there’s something to the stories.”
“That is an interesting theory. Please tell me you have what you need to run the tests here because there’s no way we’re waking Jody up unless we’re certain.”
Sulat grinned so widely his fangs showed. “Of course I do.”
“Then let’s find out.” No matter what the tests showed, his feelings for Jody wouldn’t change. But if he and Sulat were experiencing the sharhal-li, it was a blessing from their ancestors and, perhaps, a message from Raenia. It was time for them to move on.
Jody finished her meal and pushed back her plate with a dramatic flourish. “There. I’ve eaten. I took the supplements, and I finished my glass of water. Now will you please tell me what the fraxx is going on?”
As amusing as it was to watch the two of them try and pretend to be calm, she wanted to know what had happened.
“What makes you think that?” Sulat asked.
“Well, for starters, you keep flicking your wings, and Tariq hasn’t stopped prowling around the room since I sat down. I trust you would have told me if there was bad news, so this must be something else.”
“You belong with us,” Sulat said, his voice low and possessive.
“In our home. In our lives. In our bed,” Tariq continued.
She wanted to say yes and skip straight to whatever came next, but she couldn’t. “Are you sure? I mean, I know what I want, but it’s still early in our relationship. There’s no reason to rush things.”
She hated herself for saying it. She wanted to rush headlong into this adventure.
“We’re sure,” Tariq said, his eyes gleaming with desire.
“Very,” Sulat said. “You are our female, and so much more. There’s no word for what you are because there’s never been proof this kind of thing was possible. But it is. And you are.”
Jody couldn’t work out what they were talking about. “I think I’m missing something here, and I get the feeling it’s important. What are you saying?”
“We are both experiencing the sharhal-li. Think of it as an echo of the full mating fever.”
They both moved to stand on either side of her, their hands on her shoulders. “You’re ours, Jody. And we are yours.”
“I didn’t know that was possible.” She dredged the words out of the tangled wreckage of her thoughts. Joy and wonder filled her along with a dozen questions she’d save for another time.
“It’s rare. So rare there’s never been a certified case. But there are stories, and now we know they are true,” Tariq said.
“Blood tested and verified,” Sulat confirmed.
“Wow.” She reached up to clutch their hands as the news sank in. “So, we’re mated?”
“Not yet.” Tariq brushed her hair back from her shoulder, his fingers stroking the side of her throat. “That normally involves an exchange of mating marks.”
She understood immediately. “And that means I’d carry your nanotech. I’d be like you.”
“It’s your decision, zurya. We want you as our mate in every way, but it’s not up to us. If you wish to wait, we understand,” Sulat said.
“My choice.” She took a breath and broke into joyous laughter as she gave them her answer. “Yes.”
Euphoric chaos erupted after that. She was out of her seat in seconds, only to be lifted into the air and spun around. Laughter filled her ears and happiness swelled in her chest.
The next thing she knew, Tariq had her pinned against a wall, his mouth on hers. His hands deftly released the fastenings on the Vardarian dress she’d opted to wear.
“I’m starting to see the appeal of these outfits,” she whispered between kisses.
